International Business Machines agreed to buy software-and-services company Red Hat for about $ 33 billion in its biggest acquisition ever, a deal that IBM hopes will boost a cloud-computing business central to Chief Executive Ginni Rometty’s effort to revive the tech giant.WSJ.com: US Business

Comcast topped 21st Century Fox in a weekend auction for Sky, winning the British broadcaster with a $ 38.8 billion bid that ends a monthslong takeover battle and promises Comcast a greatly expanded international footprint.WSJ.com: US Business

Pearl Abyss, the Korean developer behind the successful massively multiplayer online role-playing game “Black Desert Online,” plans to acquire “EVE Online” creator CCP Games, it announced on Thursday. CCP Games will continue to operate independently as a developer with studios in Reykjavik, London, and Shanghai, Pearl Abyss said, but it will also bring its development […]

Four days after the special committee of the Perry Ellis International Inc. board reaffirmed its support for George Feldenkreis’ offer to take the company private, Randa Accessories laid out why it believes shareholders should line up behind its offer, which is slightly higher: $ 28 a share, as compared with Feldenkreis’ $ 27.50 a share.
In a letter sent to the special committee this morning, Jeffrey Spiegel, Randa’s chief executive officer, wrote: “We were disappointed to read of your decision not to engage with us regarding our compelling proposal that would provide superior value to your shareholders than your existing merger agreement with George Feldenkreis (the insider transaction).”
Spiegel said the deal with Feldenkreis “expressly permits the special committee to engage in discussions to clarify the terms of any unsolicited proposal it receives and, further, to engage in negotiations with regards to such a proposal that is reasonably expected to lead to a superior proposal.”
Yet the committee has “not once directly contacted us or our representatives.” Instead, the committee’s decision has been delivered via press release, Randa said.
As a result, Randa said it would address what it said were inaccuracies in the committee’s statement last week. That included the committee’s questioning of its financing ability. Spiegel said

Microsoft will acquire software-code repository GitHub for $ 7.5 billion in stock, a move that could help the tech giant convince more developers to create applications for its cloud-computing business.WSJ.com: WSJD

New England has a new kick returner. Plus: Sheldon Richardson to the Vikings. Dontari Poe to the Panthers. And Kirk Cousins to the Vikings. Bill Barnwell evaluates every big move of the offseason.www.espn.com – NFL

PUSHING AHEAD: Former Perry Ellis International Inc. chairman George Feldenkreis in a letter dated March 9 reaffirmed his offer to acquire all shares of the company he doesn’t already own in a “going private” transaction. As reported, Feldenkreis is working with Fortress Credit Advisors on an offered valued at $ 430 million, or $ 27.50 a share.
The letter was disclosed in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday, a Schedule 13D/A.
Feldenkreis also is seeking a 30-day extension of the deadline to submit shareholder nominations of directors at the company’s 2018 annual shareholders’ meeting later this year. He also indicated that he would still nominate a slate of directors for election to the board in the event his request is denied.
Feldenkreis’ non-binding offer of Feb. 6 came six months after he was pushed out as executive chairman. He led the company for more than 50 years and served as chairman and chief executive officer since 1993. The family’s ownership stake in the company is valued at more than $ 100 million. His son, Oscar, is currently ceo at Perry Ellis.
The Perry Ellis board on Feb. 26 authorized a special committee to evaluate the proposal. At the time, the company said there was

Walt Disney agreed to buy select assets of 21st Century Fox for $ 52.4 billion in stock as it moves to bolster its streaming and television businesses in a changing media landscape.WSJ.com: US Business

The Minnesota Vikings have acquired wide receiver Mike Wallace and a seventh-round draft pick from the Miami Dolphins for a fifth-round pick, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.ESPN.com